CostIndexUSA

Houston, TX vs Moreno Valley, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Houston
98.6
overall index
$1,600/mo rent
CA
Moreno Valley
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Houston is moderately cheaper than Moreno Valley — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Houston, you would need $86,300 in Moreno Valley. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+23.7%
Houston
104.5
Moreno Valley
129.3
🛒 Groceries+0.8%
Houston
100.6
Moreno Valley
101.4
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Houston
100.4
Moreno Valley
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Houston
90.8
Moreno Valley
96.2
Utilities+55.9%
Houston
95.3
Moreno Valley
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Houston to see what you'd need to earn in Moreno Valley to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Moreno Valley, CA
$86,300
$6,300 more needed in Moreno Valley

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 98.6) = salary × 1.0791. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Houston, TX

Median Home Price
$302,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
104.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Moreno Valley, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Moreno Valley has 23.7% higher housing costs compared to Houston.

Income & Job Market

Houston, TX

Median Household Income
$79,500
Per Capita Income
$45,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
2,304,580
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAerospaceManufacturingLogistics

Moreno Valley, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
208,634
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Houston, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Moreno Valley, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.